TransLink rolls-out block-long bus to solve the pass-up problem

Behold, the B.C. Bus Train: the motor coach with the most

The $370 million pledged to TransLink in the federal budget is starting to arrive in Metro Vancouver.

The first of three ultra-articulated, block-long buses will make its debut today after a series of late night and early morning tests near the Tsawwassen ferry terminal this week.

TransLink’s congestion-clearing super-bus.

At 200-metres long, the B.C. Bus Train can hold 500 passengers. The 14-wheeled accordion bus, which runs on natural gas, is like six buses in one. It even comes with free wifi, space for an on-board bike mechanic, a barista stand and disc jockey.

The surprise addition to the Coast Mountain Bus Company fleet could go a long way to solving the problem of 1,000-plus passengers left behind every week by full buses around the region.

The bus will be christened shortly before noon on April 1 by new TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond and Coast Mountain’s chief driver Larry Aprilscherz at Broadway and Commercial. First 500 passengers ride for free. The bus will run rush hours on the route to the University of B.C. A second vehicle will arrive next month to serve the Fraser Highway in Surrey.

Under a long delayed FOI request, finally released this morning, it has been learned that Christy Clark will christen the new people mover the ‘Whistle Blower’. Unfortunately 43 of 44 pages of the release were redacted and all links to related costs were deleted – at least three times by unknown minions.

“Hello?”
“Peter, it’s Christy. Why the hell didn’t you tell me about those block-long buses TransLink is running?”
“I didn’t know…”
“I mean, it’s a hell of a good idea and everything, but you should have told me. We should be getting max PR out of this and there could have been a video of me driving the first one, so…”
“Christy, can I get back to you on this? I’ve got a couple of calls to make.”
“Yeah, but hurry it up. Me and Pammy are meeting Carole for lunch and I know she’ll ask.”
“Sigh…okay. Say hi to the ladies for me.”